The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-12-02
oFrEcERs W. G. 7. u. weonsrows
MRS. LiVERMORE QUITS.
The Eminent Nom Partisan Lady Leaves
The q. .. y.

BOsToN, October 22.-One of the great
est sensations ever made in temperance
circles in Massachusetts, is the Withdrawal
of Mrs. Mary A. Livermore from the Re-
publican party and her accession to the
Prohibition party. She has hitherto been
one of the most earnest advocates of the
Republican party Her change was an
nounced at the annual State Convention of
the Massachusetts, W. c. T. L.
Speeches were made by Pundita Rama
bal, Frances E. Willard, Joseph Cook and
Rev. Nolney B. Gushing. 1t was at the
magnificent mass meeting on Wednesday
evening, in connection with the Conven-
ton, that Mrs. Livermore made her speech
renouncng allegiance to the Republican
party.
She began by tracing the history of the
Republican party and gradually led up to
the present time. She spoke of the saloon
pledge of the Republican party in Massa-
chusetts last year to submit a prohibitory
Constitutional Amendment, its failure to
fulfill that pledge, and the action of its
Temperance" Governor in coming out for
High License. She declared that she
could 10 longer act with the Republican
party, because of it's treacherous course
toward Prohibition, but must be found
acting with the party which favors the an
Inhalation of the grog- shop. They ask
~ Oh 20 81 nd l,vyf Ia pnnu hi /.
can party. How can l stand by that party
when it refuses to stand by itself and its
professions? AS well ask me to stand by
ball of yarn tied to the tail of cat, as
the cat runs about the room, under and
over chairs and out of the window"
Amid profound stiffness she said that
years ago she saw three men engaged in
clearing wood lot. They would begin at
the bottom of great tree that had stood
the storms and tempests of century, and
ply their axes first on one side and then on
the other, till TIE topmost branches would
begin to culver, slightly at first, and then
gradually more and more as the workmen
continued to chop, till at last it would fall
completely over, carrying everything be
fore it. And then the men would cut of
the branches, hitch their mules to the logs,
draw them away, set them on fire and
nothing be left of them but their ashes
This, she said, would be the doom of the
Republican party. Prohibitionists would
strike first on one side and then on the
other, till the great structure would fall
and nothing remain but its ashes Mrs
Livermore remarked that this iii light be q
moment of joy to her auditors, but fol
her it was an occasion Of sadness, for wher
she remembered the long years she had
stood by the Republican party and thought
of the grand and noble leaders it had had
it was indeed with a feeling of sadness that
she saw it was her duty to come out from
it and give her support to the party that
stood out against the saloon and for the
home.
Mrs. Lvermores influence is so great il
the Massachusetts, w. c. T. L., that hith
erto no Endorsement of the Prohibition par
ty has been made by that organization
But now the bars are let down; for the w
c. r. L. thi,- year have adopted by an al
most unanimous vote the following rcso
luton:
RESOLVED, That our sympathy and our
prayers are with that party which declares
for Prohibition and woman's ballot
In an interview with a reporter Mrs
Livermore said that she had counselled
with no one about this step. 1t had been
terrible effort for l.er to take it; for two
nights before her speech in the Convention
she had not been able to sleep.